The Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center — Oregon BEST — announced Monday that it will invest just over $1 million in university research facilities for solar energy and green building.

The funding, to be invested at Oregon State University, Portland State University and the University of Oregon, will be used to purchase research equipment and add three lab facilities to the Oregon BEST shared-user network that can be accessed by people in both the academic and commercial sectors.

Oregon BEST was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2007 as a signature research center in renewable energy and the sustainable built environment and aims to turn research into business opportunities.

"By helping Oregon businesses access our shared-user network of university research expertise and lab equipment, firms can more quickly commercialize new products and services, which leads to new jobs and addresses some of the world’s energy and environmental challenges," said David Kenney, Oregon BEST director, in a news release.

Oregon BEST announced the new lab funding at its annual BEST Fest conference at the Oregon Convention Center.

The new labs bring the total number of facilities in the Oregon BEST network to seven. More than 180 faculty at OSU, PSU, the UO and the Oregon Institute of Technology are part of the statewide network.

Oregon BEST invested $800,000 in the new facilities, with an additional $270,000 coming from university and business contributions. Combined with lab investments brokered by Oregon BEST last year, the research network represents almost $5 million in new lab resources since 2009.

At the University of Oregon, Oregon BEST is investing in two labs. The funding establishes theFaçade Integrated Technologies (FIT) Testing Facility that will test building façade materials and products such as high-tech window glazings, solar awnings, and breathable walls in real-world conditions.

The funding also purchases lab equipment that tests heating and cooling technology for the existingEnergy Studies in Buildings Lab with facilities in Eugene and Portland.